I chose to intercalate in Neuroscience because I found the module in Year 2 interesting. That said, it was a drastically different experience from pre-clinical medicine and proved to be a thoroughly exciting year!
What was it like starting out in Year 3?
I was taken back at first by how different teaching was from medicine, despite both sharing the same topics of discussion. Teaching was not meant to be taken at face value, instead students were encouraged to read deeply around the subject, looking for either supporting or contrasting evidence. This was nonetheless refreshing from pre-clinical medical teaching, where good clinical practice was in most circumstances a set of guidelines simply to follow.
Any memorable experiences?
The most memorable experience of the intercalated year was my honours project. Despite being cut short due to lockdown restrictions, I felt that I gained so much from the short time I spent in the lab. While experiments did not always go to plan (in fact, the majority didn’t), attempting to troubleshoot the mistakes or explain unexpected results was nonetheless a rewarding experience.
What skills did you learn?
While much of the teaching during my intercalated year was focused on academic research, I also acquired many transferable skills. For example, an emphasis is placed on critical appraisal of academic papers, as well as public engagement of research.
How will intercalation benefit your future career?
I feel that my experience during intercalation will benefit a future career in medicine greatly, whether or not that includes some aspect of academic research. I felt that the critical skills gained would be important in reading any piece of research – however promising it might seem at first glance.
Any words of wisdom for other students looking to choose their intercalated programme?
Don’t be too hard on yourself – going into intercalation from a highly competitive environment in medical school, there is often self-imposed pressure to succeed. Remember that research can often give unpredictable results – and that is rarely your own fault!
